For the next 40 minutes, you can research and explore whatever you want as long it is relevant or related to Jane Eyre.

Consider a footnote or a point of interest regarding Bronte's Biography, Victorian England, or whatever you want to explore. See below for a list of research suggestions.

3. Did I mention everyone gets an A? That is - if everyone shares their learning - post links, embed videos, images, songs, etc. Be sure to include commentary as to why it's relevant to Jane Eyre.
Post to: http://formvistudentshowcase.blogspot.com

But everyone must do so. Positive Peer Pressure.

Show us what you learned. #Crowdsource Research

4. Lastly, just for fun add a song that you think would be perfect for a contemporary film remake of JANE EYRE. In a couple sentences, explain why it would make the soundtrack - be specific regarding the scene and point of view.

I can see eyes rolling from here - make it fun. Share your intellectual curiosity. Surprise us.
Enlighten us, please.

Here are some suggestions:

1.How is Charlotte Bronte’s life story reflected in the novel?

2.In Chapter 1 (page 8 of the Signet Classic edition), Jane mentions the novelPamela. How does the story of that novel relate to this one?

3.She also mentions Bewick’s British Birds, in Chapter 1 and on page 231. Research that book, and explain how it connects to Jane Eyre.

4.In Chapter 3 (page 20), Jane mentions reading Gulliver’s Travels. What is that story about, and what are Jane’s thoughts about it? (It’s mentioned again on page 231.)

5.Jane is also fascinated with tales from the Arabian Nights . Research the tales, and explain Jane’s fascination. (She is reminded of her childhood fascination on page 231.)

7.On page 49, Helen Burns is reading Rasselas, a work by Samuel Johnson. What is it about, and how does it relate to Jane Eyre?

8.What was the state of the British educational system in the 1840’s, or Victorian England? Who went to school? Where did the poor or orphans, go?

9.What is typhus? How serious is/was it? Is it still a concern in the modern world?

10.Research the career of “governess” in Victorian England. What were the expectations? The benefits? Necessary training?

11.When Jane first meets Mr. Rochester in the fog, she assumes he and his dog Pilot are a Gytrash. Research this term. How does it relate to a novel with Gothic themes such as Jane Eyre?

12.The novel makes reference to the study of phrenology, or the way the relative sizes of parts of the human skull affect personality. Research phrenology, and discuss the novel’s references to it. (See page 253 for one example.)

13.In addition to phrenology and the Gytrash, the novel mentions other dabblings into mysticism such as fortune telling, presentiments, and mesmerism. What was the reaction of Bronte’s contemporaries to the inclusion of these topics in her novel?

7.On page 49, Helen Burns is reading Rasselas, a work by Samuel Johnson.
What is it about, and how does it relate to Jane Eyre?

8.What was the state of the British educational system in
the 1840’s, or Victorian England? Who
went to school? Where did the poor or
orphans, go?

9.What is typhus?
How serious is/was it? Is it
still a concern in the modern world?

10.Research the career of “governess” in Victorian
England. What were the
expectations? The benefits? Necessary training?

11.When Jane first meets Mr. Rochester in the fog, she
assumes he and his dog Pilot are a Gytrash.
Research this term. How does it
relate to a novel with Gothic themes such as Jane Eyre?

12.The novel makes reference to the study of phrenology,
or the way the relative sizes of parts of the human skull affect
personality. Research phrenology, and
discuss the novel’s references to it.
(See page 253 for one example.)

13.In addition to phrenology and the Gytrash, the novel
mentions other dabblings into mysticism such as fortune telling, presentiments,
and mesmerism. What was the reaction of
Bronte’s contemporaries to the inclusion of these topics in her novel?

Friday, February 21, 2014

“Does that person want you?” she inquired of Mr. Rochester; and Mr. Rochester turned to see who the “person” was. He made a curious grimace—one of his strange and equivocal demonstrations—threw down his cue and followed me from the room.

“Well, Jane?” he said, as he rested his back against the schoolroom door, which he had shut.

“If you please, sir, I want leave of absence for a week or two.”

“What to do?—where to go?”

“To see a sick lady who has sent for me.”

“What sick lady?—where does she live?”

“At Gateshead; in ---shire.”

“-shire? That is a hundred miles off! Who may she be that sends for people to see her that distance?”

“Her name is Reed, sir—Mrs. Reed.”

“Reed of Gateshead? There was a Reed of Gateshead, a magistrate.”

“It is his widow, sir.”

“And what have you to do with her? How do you know her?”

“Mr. Reed was my uncle—my mother’s brother.”

“The deuce he was! You never told me that before: you always said you had no relations.”

“None that would own me, sir. Mr. Reed is dead, and his wife cast me off.”

“Why?”

“Because I was poor, and burdensome, and she disliked me.”

“But Reed left children?—you must have cousins? Sir George Lynn was talking of a Reed of Gateshead yesterday, who, he said, was one of the veriest rascals on town; and Ingram was mentioning a Georgiana Reed of the same place, who was much admired for her beauty a season or two ago in London.”

“John Reed is dead, too, sir: he ruined himself and half-ruined his family, and is supposed to have committed suicide. The news so shocked his mother that it brought on an apoplectic attack.”

“And what good can you do her? Nonsense, Jane! I would never think of running a hundred miles to see an old lady who will, perhaps, be dead before you reach her: besides, you say she cast you off.”

“Yes, sir, but that is long ago; and when her circumstances were very different: I could not be easy to neglect her wishes now.”

“How long will you stay?”

“As short a time as possible, sir.”

“Promise me only to stay a week—”

“I had better not pass my word: I might be obliged to break it.”

“At all events you will come back: you will not be induced under any pretext to take up a permanent residence with her?”

“Oh, no! I shall certainly return if all be well.”

“And who goes with you? You don’t travel a hundred miles alone.”

“No, sir, she has sent her coachman.”

“A person to be trusted?”

“Yes, sir, he has lived ten years in the family.”

Mr. Rochester meditated. “When do you wish to go?”

“Early to-morrow morning, sir.”

“Well, you must have some money; you can’t travel without money, and I daresay you have not much: I have given you no salary yet. How much have you in the world, Jane?” he asked, smiling.

I drew out my purse; a meagre thing it was. “Five shillings, sir.” He took the purse, poured the hoard into his palm, and chuckled over it as if its scantiness amused him. Soon he produced his pocket-book: “Here,” said he, offering me a note; it was fifty pounds, and he owed me but fifteen. I told him I had no change.

“I don’t want change; you know that. Take your wages.”

I declined accepting more than was my due. He scowled at first; then, as if recollecting something, he said—

“Right, right! Better not give you all now: you would, perhaps, stay away three months if you had fifty pounds. There are ten; is it not plenty?”

“Yes, sir, but now you owe me five.”

“Come back for it, then; I am your banker for forty pounds.”

“Mr. Rochester, I may as well mention another matter of business to you while I have the opportunity.”

“Matter of business? I am curious to hear it.”

“You have as good as informed me, sir, that you are going shortly to be married?”

“Yes; what then?”

“In that case, sir, Adèle ought to go to school: I am sure you will perceive the necessity of it.”

“To get her out of my bride’s way, who might otherwise walk over her rather too emphatically? There’s sense in the suggestion; not a doubt of it. Adèle, as you say, must go to school; and you, of course, must march straight to—the devil?”

“I hope not, sir; but I must seek another situation somewhere.”

“In course!” he exclaimed, with a twang of voice and a distortion of features equally fantastic and ludicrous. He looked at me some minutes.

“And old Madam Reed, or the Misses, her daughters, will be solicited by you to seek a place, I suppose?”

“No, sir; I am not on such terms with my relatives as would justify me in asking favours of them—but I shall advertise.”

“You shall walk up the pyramids of Egypt!” he growled. “At your peril you advertise! I wish I had only offered you a sovereign instead of ten pounds. Give me back nine pounds, Jane; I’ve a use for it.”

“And so have I, sir,” I returned, putting my hands and my purse behind me. “I could not spare the money on any account.”

“And how do people perform that ceremony of parting, Jane? Teach me; I’m not quite up to it.”

“They say, Farewell, or any other form they prefer.”

“Then say it.”

“Farewell, Mr. Rochester, for the present.”

“What must I say?”

“The same, if you like, sir.”

“Farewell, Miss Eyre, for the present; is that all?”

“Yes?”

“It seems stingy, to my notions, and dry, and unfriendly. I should like something else: a little addition to the rite. If one shook hands, for instance; but no—that would not content me either. So you’ll do no more than say Farewell, Jane?”

“It is enough, sir: as much good-will may be conveyed in one hearty word as in many.”

“Very likely; but it is blank and cool—‘Farewell.’”

“How long is he going to stand with his back against that door?” I asked myself; “I want to commence my packing.” The dinner-bell rang, and suddenly away he bolted, without another syllable: I saw him no more during the day, and was off before he had risen in the morning.

With more Snow days possible (this Thursday!), you must continue to READ - and study!

Take ownership of your learning.

You should know that some schools have turned to virtual school days online, so students can continue to learn while school buildings are closed and roads are hazardous. One article that resonated included this quote:

“It also provides them with experience in asynchronous learning, an activity they are likely to encounter after high school.”For example, do you know what a MOOC is? Checkout free courses taught by top professors at top universities on Coursera.com and see this complete list of MOOCs.Listen to this:

Sunday, February 9, 2014

CDDEP: The exhibit you’re working on now, “The Romantic Disease”, focuses on tuberculosis. Why did you decide to concentrate on TB?

ANNA DUMITRIU:One-third of the world’s population is infected with [latent] TB and it’s the world’s largest infectious killer. Because of drug resistance and other diseases like HIV, it’s coming back in more developed countries. It’s the first disease to ever be found in human remains, really the oldest disease, but it remains a major challenge. If we become complacent with it, it could make a huge comeback in the Western world as these bacteria are taking on new drug resistances.

What fascinates me about it is the way it affected the world and how people lived in the past. It was nicknamed “The Romantic Disease” because it gave a kind of romantic death to people – they’d have plenty of time to slowly waste away and look pale. There was even a fashion at that time for ladies to look as pale as possible – they would use black make-up to make their cheeks look hollow and sometimes paint blue veins on their faces to make their skin appear more translucent.

In the beginning of the 20th century, it was thought that the primary cause of TB was household dust: “Where there’s dust there’s danger.” They used to think that the sputum people would cough up would dry into dust and spread the infection. But it would be very unlikely for that to happen as the particles are too large. And in ancient times, many natural dyes were antimicrobial, so it may be that the discovery of some natural dyes were born of attempts to make cures for infections such as TB. Some of these will be shown in the exhibit.

The exhibit also features lots of little lungs made out of felt and dust. They’re “contaminated”, you could say, with the extracted DNA of killed TB. They are non-infectious and have been through a very stringent sterilization protocol to allow them to be displayed. This is actually part of a process to do whole-genome sequencing of TB, so this exhibit really shows where we were and where we’re going to be [with regard to TB].

Again, the question, Why Read Jane Eyre?

From Huffington Post:

While I'm a very big fan of most Victorian literature, "Jane Eyre" made an impression on me that other novels formerly hadn't. "Jane Eyre" is not just a gothic romance novel. It's a bildungsroman, a coming-of-age story. It is the first of its kind in some ways, as it's written by a woman about the interior life of a woman. Female thoughts and feelings were exposed. Brontë has been referred to as "the first historian of the private consciousness."

I love that Jane Eyre is an unconventional heroine. She is not beautiful, but instead is rather plain looking. She is an underdog who the reader roots for through the entire novel. I love that Jane Eyre overcomes her troubled, impoverished past. I love that Jane Eyre does the right thing for herself. She is the epitome of a strong woman. She teaches the importance of self-reliance. She supports herself at a time when it was extremely hard for a woman to do such a thing on her own.

The novel was very shocking for its time. One reviewer said that the book "might be written by a woman but not by a lady." People were scandalized that Eyre returned to Rochester. However, the first edition still sold out in six weeks.

Every time I encounter a woman who hasn't read this book, I advise reading it immediately. Women can learn so much from this great Victorian heroine.

This is not to suggest that Jane Eyre didn't have flaws. She continues to call her love interest "master," which is pretty bizarre. She can be semi-subservient to him. She isn't a perfect character, which I love about her, too.

Still, there's much to be learned from the way she chooses to live. Here are some pieces of wisdom that women could learn from "Jane Eyre":

1. You can overcome your past, no matter how bad it is. Jane Eyre is tortured and made miserable as a child by her horrible relatives....

And it is by such means that Yeats's work does what the necessary poetry always does, which is to touch the base of our sympathetic nature while taking in at the same time the unsympathetic nature of the world to which that nature is constantly exposed. The form of the poem, in other words, is crucial to poetry's power to do the thing which always is and always will be to poetry's credit: the power to persuade that vulnerable part of our consciousness of its rightness in spite of the evidence of wrongness all around it, the power to remind us that we are hunters and gatherers of values, that our very solitudes and distresses are creditable, in so far as they, too, are an earnest of our veritable human being.

Homework:

HWK:Friday - Read to page 62.For Monday - Finish the book - page 72.Review Heart of Darkness on Monday.In-Class Write on Tuesday - I will have a couple passages with questions.Wednesday - ARS POETICA - a long poem about poetry.This month/this year/ this life, what have you learned about poetry?Does poetry matter? Thursday/Friday Exam Review